Sharing OS X's iTunes Library with Bootcamp under SL?

[davidg4781]

I would have thought this had been discussed, but I can't find anything for it.

Now that Bootcamp partitions can ready Mac OS X partitions, I'd like to use iTunes under Bootcamp (running Windows 7 Ultimate) to access the iTunes library I have under OS X.

I was thinking I can just point the iTunes library location to the OS X side, but I don't know if it's going to rearrange everything and screw things up. I'm on the Windows side right now updating things (working on a project tomorrow for work, I'm planning on using OS X, but just in case), so I really can't go over to Mac to make a back up.

Has anyone tried this yet? All my searches have strange workarounds from 2007. I'd like to see something under the new drivers.

BTW, so far, everything's working great. I can actually stand to be on the Windows side, although I just noticed my trackpad is picking up palm movements for the cursor. I thought I fixed it, but I guess it didn't take.

 

[Snakehn]

I would have thought this had been discussed, but I can't find anything for it.

Now that Bootcamp partitions can ready Mac OS X partitions, I'd like to use iTunes under Bootcamp (running Windows 7 Ultimate) to access the iTunes library I have under OS X.

I was thinking I can just point the iTunes library location to the OS X side, but I don't know if it's going to rearrange everything and screw things up. I'm on the Windows side right now updating things (working on a project tomorrow for work, I'm planning on using OS X, but just in case), so I really can't go over to Mac to make a back up.

Has anyone tried this yet? All my searches have strange workarounds from 2007. I'd like to see something under the new drivers.

BTW, so far, everything's working great. I can actually stand to be on the Windows side, although I just noticed my trackpad is picking up palm movements for the cursor. I thought I fixed it, but I guess it didn't take.

doesn't itunes gives you the option to either rearrange your music files or leave them intact?

 

[davidg4781]

doesn't itunes gives you the option to either rearrange your music files or leave them intact?

Yes it does, but I'm assuming it has to write a file data file with information about the whereabouts and other aspects of the music.

What I'm concerned with is that it'll mess up the file that's already there and I might lose my iTunes library.

Just remembered....I did a Time Machine backup before switching over to Windows. It's adding the files, let's hope it works. I'll post after I play with it a bit then switch back over to the Mac side.

 

[davidg4781]

Ok, so I did it. Under Bootcamp, in iTunes prefs, you tell it to leave the files alone and keep the folder as the default one (or wherever else you want to put it in Windows). You then add the iTunes folder under OS X to the library. It'll keep everything put, but it'll now let you access the files under OS X. I don't think it copied anything over.

The only thing it didn't copy over was the play count (everything was like new) and your playlists.

So, I'm pretty excited I found this out. I'm sure tomorrow there'll be a reply saying it's been done like this for years.

 

[Snakehn]

Ok, so I did it. Under Bootcamp, in iTunes prefs, you tell it to leave the files alone and keep the folder as the default one (or wherever else you want to put it in Windows). You then add the iTunes folder under OS X to the library. It'll keep everything put, but it'll now let you access the files under OS X. I don't think it copied anything over.

The only thing it didn't copy over was the play count (everything was like new) and your playlists.

So, I'm pretty excited I found this out. I'm sure tomorrow there'll be a reply saying it's been done like this for years.

well to be honest, this was one of the first things that i wondered when i installed win7, thanks to you now i know that it works just fine and i might try to do it tonight.

great find

 

[Snakehn]

so it's been a while now, how is this working for you?

 

[davidg4781]

Thanks for replying, I completely forgot, since I'm not a big Windows user.

It works fine, the only thing is it's going to be a brand new library on the Windows side. All your play counts and downloads and what not will be different.

I would probably turn off Podcast downloading so it won't add extra podcasts into the folder on the Mac side. I would also manage the music/movies/etc on the Mac side and then just re-add that folder whenever you go back to the Windows side.

If you add a song to the Windows side, it won't show up on the Mac side and will just stay hidden in the folder.

 

[macfanboy]

using this guide, you can set up NTFS write access in Mac OS X (natively). then you can move your itunes to your boot camp partition. when thats done, go back to mac and point iTunes to the 'iTunes Library.itl' you moved to the boot camp partition.

both OS's would have write access to the itunes library (on the windows partiton), eliminating any problems

 

[davidg4781]

No offense, but that seems like a lot of hacking around. I'd also like to keep my library on OS X just because that's what I use the most. For those of us that want access for the few times we're in Windows, I think what I did is the best option.

 

[Stridder44]

using this guide, you can set up NTFS write access in Mac OS X (natively). then you can move your itunes to your boot camp partition. when thats done, go back to mac and point iTunes to the 'iTunes Library.itl' you moved to the boot camp partition.

both OS's would have write access to the itunes library (on the windows partiton), eliminating any problems

Screw that noise. I'm happy with Windows being able to read HFS, but I don't want it writing anything on the OS X side.

Thanks for the heads up davidg4781! Good to see this finally works.

 

[macfanboy]

Screw that noise. I'm happy with Windows being able to read HFS, but I don't want it writing anything on the OS X side.

Thanks for the heads up davidg4781! Good to see this finally works.

i can't get david's method to work. i was just suggesting another idea for those in a similar situation to mine. calm down

 

[Stridder44]

i can't get david's method to work. i was just suggesting another idea for those in a similar situation to mine. calm down

I didn't mean for it to seem like a direct attack on you (and apologize if it seemed so), I'm just not crazy about the thought of Windows having the privilege of editing any OS X file.

 

[davidg4781]

i can't get david's method to work. i was just suggesting another idea for those in a similar situation to mine. calm down

Are you using the latest version of Snow Leopard? I wasn't able to do this until I installed SL. Before Windows wasn't able to see OS X without third party stuff.

 

[dennisje182]

I can't it to work...
I've set ~\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music in iTunes as my music folder. But it doesn't import my library in Boot camp.
Is this the way to just read my library in boot camp but not write all the music files to my windows partition?